Wandering Around The Family Tree

The most of our social activities during our early years and until I went to Le Roy to school were connected with church and Sunday school, at Morganville. There were many socials, the annual picnic and Christmas tree. We boys were kept too busy for ball or other games away from home. When I was about eight sister Lizzie and I went to Boston with mother and visited relatives there. We went in a day coach and rode all night. My next trip away from home was to the Centennial, in Philadelphia, in 1876. This was the first great and the greatest of our Expositions. Its effect was notable on those who attended it and upon the nation as a whole, and also upon foreign lands. _____ Patty's notes on this entry Charles Joslin Call would have been 8 in 1867. While I don't know the exact route they took to Boston - the trip was by train. Starting in 1867, various railroads started merging to become the Boston and Albany Railroad, which at the time was longest point-to-point railroad...

One of my favorite maps has always been the 1875 map of Hankins, Sullivan County, New York - because I can identify several family members who lived on the west end of town. Mrs. Hankins (pink property) is Susan Thomas Hankins (1812-1885) daughter of Moses Thomas and Rebecca Monington, widow of John Hankins - my great-great-great grandmother. B. Tyler (green property) is Benjamin Tyler (1818-1913) son of Benjamin Tyler and Sarah Kellam, who married John Ross after the death of her husband Benjamin Tyler. Sarah Kellam and John Ross are the parents of Mary Ellen Ross - my great-great-grandmother who married Lucas Wurtz Hankins - son of John Hankins and Susan Thomas. So Benjamin Tyler is the 1/2 brother of Susan Thomas Hankins' daughter-in-law. J.R. Kellam (purple property) is John Ross Kellam (1830-1903) son of John Kellam and Jane Ross. John Kellam was the older brother of Sarah Kellam who married Benjamin Tyler and John Ross. Jane Ross is the younger sister of John Ross wh...

Father bought what we called the Sweetland Farm, of Ralph Sweetland in the fall of 1878. This farm was part of a tract embracing two others, and taken up and settled by the father of the Sweetlands we knew. Charles owned and lived on the farm across the road from the Ralph Sweetland farm. Ralph had two children, Harvey and Anna. Charles and I were in school with Anna. Charles Sweetland told us he was born in 1823. The house, - at Pleasant Grove, - was built that summer. The big Maple trees were planted either that year or before. Charles had a daughter, Frances, who married Wm. Radley and was grandmother of Frederic, and mother of Florence, Mrs Clifford Trick, and Charles. Then came Martha, Mrs Rumsey, she and her husband were teachers for years. After Edgar Rumsey's death, Martha built a small house in Stafford. She was town clerk, Stafford, for several years. Sarah married a Mr. Inance (?) and Georgia married George Pearson who had one daughter. I believe another farm joined on t...

Farm Machinery Father's first Reaping machine was a reaper and mower combined. I think he bought that when we went to the Ives place. It took two to operate it. The second man sate behind the driver sideways, and raked the bundles off by hand so they would be out of the way when the machine came around again. When driving the team on this machine, I had a narrow escape with my life, It was here (Prospect Farm) in the field on the corner east. I stood up and struck one of the horses with the end of the lines. The team started to run. The man behind me made some quick moves, swung around, jumped off, succeeded in running up past the machine and managed to stop the team. When they stopped, I was gripping the tongue with one leg and hanging on to the end of the evening with both hands. My body hung right in front of one of the big wheels. My only injury was a bad cut on the third finger of my left hand. The scar remains to remind me of the affair. Threshing We threshed with hor...

In late August/early September 1955, Elizabeth Ann Coe Call hosted at least 2 events at the Red Osier restaurant for various groups of family members. I believe this was a restaurant located at the Red Osier Dairy Farm . There is currently a restaurant known as the Red Osier Landmark Restaurant at the same location.  The list of attendees at the lunch and dinner show how connected the family was 100 years after Robert Call immigrated. I believe these first two articles refer to a luncheon for granddaughters, great-granddaughters and granddaughter-in-laws of Robert Call and Charlotte Joslin  held probably on August 30. Batavia Daily News, August 1955 (exact date and page not clear on scan) Le Roy Gazette News, September 8, 1955  page 7 Probably followed by a dinner a few nights later for Charles Joslin and Elizabth (Coe) Call's children and grandchildren. Batavia Daily News, September 6, 1955 page 9 Luncheon guests - grouped by family ...

In 1879-80 I taught my first term. All the rural schools had a summer and a winter term at that time. The winter terms were considered much harder to teach, and men or experienced old teachers were employed for them. My first term was at Lime Rock two miles east of Le Roy. I think I had a $ 7.00 a week, with perhaps twenty-five pupils. In the fall, of 1880 I went to Geneseeo State Normal school, for a year, - after the potatoes were dug! I worked pretty hard, but had a good time and made some very good friends. Byron Sherwood and Hiram Horton have been lifelong friends. Others were John Connors of Mt. Morris, W.J. Hoyt of Wellsville, and Monroe Baker of Mt Morris. The Philalathean Society was organized that year, and I was one of the early members. Dr. Wm. Milne was principal. Mrs Wells, Prof Waterbury, Prof Allen Miss Burns and Miss (Jennie) Coe were some of the teachers. I came home for election and cast my first ballot for James A. Garfield. The next winter, 1881-2 I taught th...

In the fall of 1875 I went to the Le Roy Academy (Academic Institute.) Albert had been going there for three years. We drove horse and buggy or horse and cutter. After Albert stopped going I usually rode horseback. I went there four years, the last term in a Teacher's Training class. We had to pay tuition, $ 12.00 or $ 15.00 a term, three terms a year. There were no High schools around here at that time. Prof. Munro was principal, Mrs. McKercher and Mrs. E.A. Hooker the leading teachers. _______ Patty's notes on this entry Le Roy Academy was the Le Roy Academic Institute founded in 1864 and operated until 1891. The school provided classical and business education programs. This photo dates from 1890, the building pictured was built in 1865 so is likely the one Charles Joslin Call attended. Value of $ 12.00 - $ 15.00. It's always hard to calculate monetary values across time. But as a comparison, in 1875, a farm laborer earned less than $ 20/month. An 1875 do...

Father and mother were members of the Morganville church, but went to the Stafford Methodist after we moved to the Ives Place. There was a bad road from there to Morganville. Mr Wilward was pastor for three years, and the church was properous. But the minister who followed was headstrong and tactless. A division arose about the management of Sunday school affairs and father and Mother decided to go Morganville "where they belonged." I think Mr Tryon was pastor when we went back. He was a bachelor, a devoted worker and was liked by everyone. Another notable pastor was Mr. Sellon, a tall man with a dark beard. His wife was a true help mate. While Mr. Sellon, was pastor, in the summer of 1877, Albert and I were baptized and received into the church. _______ Patty's notes on this entry Morganville Church was built in 1835, originally used by the First Christian Church and the Universalists. By 1860, the Universalists had left the church, and the remaining congregation a...

In the fall of 1875 I had typhoid fever. I was in bed twenty two days. When we moved into the new house, Albert brought me over in his arms. A days after I was dressed and up. Uncle Sam Joslin was very sick at the same time. We each had a bed in the sitting room of the old house. ___________ Patty's notes on this entry Before the advent of antibiotics, typhoid fever killed untold numbers of people each year. Even today, the WHO estimates that 11-20 million people contract it each year, with over 125,000 people dying of it each year. In the early 1900's, about 10% of those who contracted typhoid died. You can read more about typhoid fever at  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoid_fever   and  https://www.news-medical.net/health/Typhoid-Fever-History.aspx Albert is Albert Henry Call (1857-1934), who was Charles Joslin Call's older brother. Uncle Sam Joslin was Samuel Joslin (1849-1913), who was Charlotte Joslin's youngest brother. Previous Post in the Series:...

In 1875 the old house was moved down in the yard near the well. There we lived until the new house was built. Father and mother drew the plans and father bought all the materials. All the lumber for the frame was brought home and stacked up the fall before, to become thoroughly dry. The doors and windows were made by Nat Rogers, grandfather of the present lumber mill Fred Rogers, in a mill operated on the Oatka between Jug City and Le Roy. The mason work was in charge of John Gillard, who was a young Englishman, and unmarried at that time. Sile Knight had charge of the carpenter work, and Anthony Waterman was one of his helpers. Steve Harris of Morganville had charge of the painting. Uncle William Joslin came up the latter part of the summer, and he most of the cupboards and drawers. The shingles were the best "shaved" shingles father could buy, and they are still on the house in 1935. The pantry and kitchen of the new house were the parlor and spare bedroom of the old house....

Elizabeth Joslin married John Challice. They never came to America. Her husband was a religious worker. I think we have nothing the corresponds to it here. Elizabeth has four children, E. Anna, Flora, a son and Rose Mary. Anna and Flora came to Stafford in 1900. Anna worked for us for a while and for Lizzie Daniels, and then for many years for Mr Frank. Benedict. She died October 9, 1933. She was a sweet girl, and very ladylike so one would know she had been brought up in a home of refinement. She and her brother had epilepsy when small, and it affected their intellects. Flora is a sweet capable woman who stayed here and cared for mother Call until her death. She visited in England and married Samuel Radley. She is active in church and temperance work. Rose visited American relatives a few years ago. I think she is bright and witty. She has written fine letters to us. _____ Patty's notes on this entry Elizabeth Joslin was born in Meshaw, Devon, England, in 1841 before July 4 wh...

George Joslin, another brother, was a minister for some years in England. He came to America about 1881. He went to Wisconsin, where he joined the Methodist Conference, and preached for many year. When he retired, he bought a home in Madison. His children were educated in Madison. He was quite a successful business man, as well as in his profession. He had three children Mary, Stanley, and Vera. The girls were pretty and charming. Stanley is a successful Methodist minister. ________ Patty's notes on this entry George Adams Joslin (1844-1921) George Adams Joslin was born April 10, 1844 in Meshaw, Devon, England. He was the second George Adams Joslin born to his parents  Robert Bird Joslin and Mary Adams. They had a son, George Adams Joslin born on December 26, 1838 in South Mouton, Devon and died there July 10, 1840. According to his obituary, he began preaching at age 18, so in about 1863. He married Mary Whitford Verrin (1841-1908) on Sept 4, 1873 in Redruth, Cornwall...

Ann Joslin came from England with mother. She married William Jones a plumber and gas fitter. They lived in Chelsea. She was the mother of seven boys and two girls. The boys were, William, Samuel, George, Alfred, Frank, Robert, Charles. The girls were Mary and Elizabeth. Samuel was drowned in 1877. He was a very bright student. Mary died young with tuberculosis. William worked here one year on the farm, and another year for Uncle William at Elba. All but three are now dead. _______ Patty's notes on this entry Ann Joslin Jones is in the front row on the left in this 1904 photo of the six Joslin siblings. Ann Joslin was born on June 4, 1836 in Filleigh, Devon, England, the third child, second daughter of Robert Bird Joslin and Mary Ann Adams. She arrived in Boston on the ship Meridium with her sister Charlotte on May 31 1854. Ann married William Jones on July 2, 1858 in Chelsea, Suffolk, Mass. She died there on April 19, 1918. William Jones was born on November 7 1820 ...